Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a very contagious infection, meaning it passes easily from one person to another, and it's common in children under 5. The name works almost like a map, because it tells you where the illness shows up: it usually causes fever, sores (tiny wounds inside the mouth), and a rash, a breakout of little spots on the skin that's often seen on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

So what causes it? A group of viruses called enteroviruses. Think of the word enterovirus as a last name: it's the name of a whole family of viruses, and each member also has its own first name. In the United States, the family member most often behind this disease is typically coxsackievirus A16. You can get infected when the virus gets into your eyes, nose, or mouth, which serve as its way into the body.

And here's the reassuring part: complications are rare. Even though hand, foot, and mouth disease can bring fever, mouth sores, and spots on the skin, most people get better on their own within 7 to 10 days.